Whomever we choose to serve in this life, we will reflect the fruit of that which we are serving. Careful not to allow your hard earned fruits of the spirit to be choked out by thorns.

Ways to serve the flesh have become so prevalent in our culture. Idolotry, greed, inappropriate sexual behavior, anger and bad attitudes, to name a few. Then before you know it, instead of prosperity there is financial crisis; confusion instead of clarity; perversion instead of peace; lustful thoughts instead of serenity.

If your life shows evidence of inappropriate fruit, trace it back to its core activity and uproot it as you would a plant. Break up that fallow ground and seed it with the word of God. Tend to your seeds as you would a garden and water it with prayer, sermons, devotionals and church attendance, along with giving, that your life may begin or continue to bare the fruits of the spirit; love, joy, peace, hope and prosperity instead of thorns.

*Three Parables

The color of beauty
Is fruit in trees
Through Christ we have victory
He is the vine
And we are the branches
Whose leaves do stir
At the breath of God.

Take a good look inside of you
Whose vine are you connected to;
Whose fruit are you to bare?
Will you be caught up in the air?
Who's struggling on his own --
How you must feel alone
God is still on the throne.

God is frost in the winter
And glistening snow
Raindrops that dance off the roof
He's dew on the petals of daffodils
He's how it feels
To laugh.

*Three Parables is a poem I wrote in 1988 and put to music for Soprano, Clarinet and Piano to the Lord glory.